To comment on something that's been brought up a few times so far, I suppose I should state my own personal stance on this sort of representation! There's no reason that someone can't play something they aren't. If that were the case, there likely would never have been a single book published that wasn't strictly non-fiction. However, like has also been brought up, some people play it as a caricature or fetishization of what they're wanting to play, and some even thinking of it as 'playing well' -- speaking with experience from other RP communities.
Something I've noticed as a trans person (emphasis to play off Rinel, also some more stuff based on other RP communities), is there's like three levels of interaction with the idea. There's the usual, where it's just never brought up, like in most RP, and it just another facet of a well-rounded character. There's the occasional exceptional roleplayer who is in the know and is down to incorporate such themes into personal roleplay as a means of personal growth or development - or at least the development of the relationship. And, finally, there's the TS hounds I've mentioned earlier, most of whom are straight/bi men who like to play with the idea of (forgive me for even using this phrase) 'traps not being gay'. Either in a romantic context, where constant reference is made to certain 'tells' of transness, or in others, where emphasis is placed on that blurring of orientation.
It's squick.
But I generally don't conceal it, and wear that sort of identity openly on my sleeve, so that it's easier to come to the notice of others! Foster a sense of community, etc. Solidarity and all that. Definitely outweighs the cons.
@Rinel said in MU*, Youth, and LGBT+ Identity:
The problem with this is that a lot of times people put out feelers about their IRL identity in games. The fact that I've always gravitated to RPing women, along with the facts that I don't participate in TS and don't get anything sexual out of roleplaying women, was one of the (many) puzzle pieces that led to me coming out to myself.
I also had a similar experience to this, when I first started playing tabletop games. A long, arduous process.
@Ghost said in MU*, Youth, and LGBT+ Identity:
As far as I'm concerned, RP whatever you please, and I support exploration into the perspective of different genders, specialities, religions, species, etc.
This! This is good. It's just a matter of research and being able to respectfully portray something that you aren't. Which is easier for some than others.
